2018 Class 2A Girls Pre Season Distance Preview

Rachel Hickeytalks about her 800m win at the 2017 Palatine Distance Night

No matter how you try and spin it, distance running in high school is enormously popular. Shoe companies love high school kids who run fast and courageous. Just ask Nike, Saucony, Asics, Adidas, and New Balance. These global bosses spend millions of dollars every year marketing kids in cross country and distance running on the track. Illinois girls have taken advantage of it too. Now more than ever they are competing in post-season competition and the national rankings bear the proof. We are in a renaissance of distance running within the land of Lincoln. There is no end in sight as long as coaching, interest, and branding continue to follow suit.